Tragic Characters in Music

Released posthumously in 1997, B.I.G.'s Life After Death had so many eerily apropos messages, but it also, as did his first album, showcased his enduring legacy as a storyteller. On "You're Nobody" he introduced a character named Darkskin Jermaine, a "silly cat" who wore suede in the rain among other strange fake stuntin' behavior. Jay Z, Beanie Sigel and French Montana have all since made reference to him.